~ Based on the prompt 'Nightmare' sent by Mais-Monsier-Le-Vicomte on Tumblr ~
The entire bedroom reeked of alcohol as the door slowly creaked open. Erika pretended to be asleep, though she knew it wouldn't do her any good. It was late into the night, but the sound of her mother opening the door was enough to jolt the child from a sound sleep.
"Erika," the word came out slurred.
Erika turned over in bed, hiding the unseeable part of her face in the pillow. "Yes, maman?"
"The curtains in the parlor are not as they were."
The girl held her breath. She thought she had readjusted the curtains earlier that evening, when she had broken the rules and peered outside. Despite drowning her mind in wine every night, she couldn't deny the otherworldly power of observation her mother possessed. Much to her dismay.
Her mother beckoned her over, her dark eyes glinting. "Here. Now."
Erika had no choice. If she disobeyed, there would be even greater Hell to pay. Wincing as she rose – the bruise on her ribs still smarting from the earlier punishment in the day – she shuffled unwillingly across the floor. She braced herself when she came within her mother's reach, but preparing herself never made it easier to bear.
Her mother's hand closed roughly around her shoulder, sinking the fingernails into her collarbone. With a yank, Erika was pulled closer. It caused her to stumble, but the moment she corrected her footing she received a vicious slap to her misshapen cheek. The flesh was thin there, and her mother knew that was where a strike would hurt the most.
That's when Erika woke in a cold sweat. Just another nightmare. Just another memory.